Air cleaner



Aug. 30, w. NEWBERRY AIR CLEANER Filed April 14, 1947 6 5 m m. 1 I 0/ 3 a. T I 2 5 2 a 1 2 6 H 5 g 5 a 2 1. 9 5 !& w 2 4 w \2 M 8 5 2 M a Ml m. J

LOREN W. NEWBERRY Patented Aug. 30, 1949 Loren W. Newherry, Dallas, Tex.

Application April 14, 1947, Serial No. 741,282

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in air cleaners and in particular, to such air cleaners as are used in conjunction with an oil bath type cleaner as an air pre-cleaner therefor.

It is one object of this invention to provide an improved air cleaner, primarily intended for use on internal combustion engines, which is effective to remove a high percentage of the foreign mattersuch as dust particles, from the air flowing into said engine.

7 Another object of the invention is to provide an improved air cleaner wherein provision is made for connecting said cleaner to air intake types of various sizes and dimensions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improvedair cleaner which is readily removable for cleaning, and wherein provision is made for allowing cleaning of substantially the entire deviceat one and the same time.

An important object of the invention is to provide an air cleaner, particularly adapted for use with internal combustionengines for cleaningthe air intake thereof, which utilizes the well-known physical laws concerning centrifugal force and the force of gravity, to remove effectively a large percentage of foreign matter which may be present in air being drawn into the engine intake manifold.

. A still further object of the invention is to provide an air cleanerof the centrifugal type, adapted for use on internal combustion engines, wherein the various elements of the cleaner are held together in part by a single bolt which may readily beremoved, thus facilitating the replacement of the inlet and outlet portions of the cleaner whereby the latter may readily and quickly be adapted for use with various types of engines in that provision may be made to enable the cleaner to be connected to various sizes of. intake pipes.

and to control the velocity of the air entering through the intake of the cleaner so as to insure a proper cleaning action of said air.

A particular object of the invention is to pro- .vide an improved air cleaner, of the character described, having interchangeable outlet fittings,

- and having interchangeable inlet fittings, which provisions allow a seller or dealer handling the cleaner for selling purposes, to adapt or alter the cleaner in accordance with the specific require- -ments of a particular engine with which the cleaner is to be used, whereby the varietyand assortment of such cleaners which a dealer must keep in stock is greatly reduced, and whereby adequate provision may be made for supplying Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an'air cleaner constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view of the cleaner, Fig. 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional viewtaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. v

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates an air cleaner constructed in accordance with this invention. Although this cleaner is intended primarily for use on internal combustion engines in conjunction with the ordinarytype of oil bath air cleaner, and is normally connected to the intake side of the latter cleaner so as to provide a precleaning action, the invention is not to be limited to such use since many other varied'and useful applications of the cleaner exist, As will'appear more fully hereinafter, the cleaner utilizes the physical laws governing centrifugal and gravitational force to efiect a relatively high degree of separation of foreign matter from the air stream being drawn into an internal combustion engine or other device in which it is desirable to have provided a substantially clean stream of air.

The cleaner includes an axial, elongate, tubular air conductor ll through which a supply of air passes to the device to which the cleaner is connected. The lower end of the conductor H engages within a circular opening l2 positioned centrally of a circular, disk like, bottom plate 13. The plate I3 is welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to the lower end of the conductor I so as to present a substantiallyintegral structure. The marginal edge of the bottom plate I3 is upturned to form an upstanding marginal flange 14 which projects a short distance above said plate' 'A suitable gasket ring l5, which may be formed of synthetic rubber, or any other suitable or desirable material, has a snug fit within the flange l4 and rests upon the bottom plate l3. r

A cylindrical housing Isis disposed above the bottom plate concentrically with respect to the conductor II, and has its lower end resting upon the gasket ring I5, the outside diameter of said housing being such as to give the housing a sliding fit within the flange I4. Since the housing forms a receptacle within which separated foreign matter accumulates as will appear more fully hereinafter, it is preferably formed of a suitable transparent material such as glass or cer tain of the transparent or translucent plastics of the Various types which are readily available on the open market. The wall thickness of the housing 16 is onl of such magnitude as to provide the required strength and rigidity to such housing, so that a relatively light and inexpensive structure is provided. Of course, if the housing is formed of a plastic, the additional feature of unbreakability is obtained.

The upper end of the housing I6 projects a short distance above the upper end of the conductor I and receives a top plate I! through which air enters the cleaner. The plate I! has amalgil fil depending skirt l8 which engages snugly the upper end of the housing l6 and within which a gasket ring l9, similar to the ring l5, has a snu sliding fit. The ring I 9 is thus disposed between the underside of the plate i1 and the upper end of the housing so as to give a substantially fluid tight seal between said plate and the housing.

The plate l7 carriesan annulus of slotted or louvered openings 20 spaced a short distance in- Wardly from the flange l8 so as to be in vertical alinement with the annular space between the conductor II and the housing l8. Each of the openings 20 is formed by cutting a flap 2! from the material of the plate I i, and bending the flap downwardlythrough a few degrees to present an inclined surface over which incomin air is caused to flow. Since each of the flaps 2| is directed in the same circumferential direction, and since each is bent downwardly through substantially the same number of degrees, incoming air flowin through the opening 20 is caused to follow a circular path downwardly into the interior ,of the housing I6. In other words, the air is forced to flow in a downwardly directed helical path.

Upon passing downwardly through the openings 20, the incoming air enters into a separation chamber 22 defined by a hollow, inverted cone 23 having its lower end truncated to form a flat bottom portion 24. The bottom 24 of the chamber carries a central, circular opening 25 through which the air conductor ll extends, an annular weld, or other suitable connecting means, securing the cone to the conductor at this point. The side wall of the cone is flared outwardly to give the desired, inverted cone shape to the chamber 22, and extends upwardly to a point substantially in horizontal alinement with the upper endof the h n 6- A a pears in F s; and 2 the drawings, the bottom 24 of the chamber is positioned near the medial portionof the housing l8 so that substantially the upper half of said housing is occupied by said chamber,

As stated hereinbefore, the incoming air is directed downwardly in a helix by means .of the openings 20, so that it follows a circular path within the chamber 22. Since th air is thus caused to pass through a circuitous. elongate path before entering into the conductor ll, its velocity within the chamber 22 is considerably higher than its velocity within the conductor I! or before entering into said chamber. This high Velocity coupled with the-circuitous path of the air causes foreign matter, such as dirt or insects, to be thrown outwardly against the sidewall of the cone 23 due to the greater mass or density of such matter. It will also be noted that theair currents passing downwardly in a helical path into the chamber 22 must reverse their direction of travel within the lower portion of such chamber and travel upwardly to enter into the open upper end of the conductor II which extends upwardly a considerable distance into the chamber. At this point also, centrifugal action is effective to separate foreign material from the air stream, said material being thrown into the lower portion of th c am 22.

It is obvious that the air currents will pass below the horizontal plane of the upper end of the conductor H before reversing their direction and passing upwardly to enter said conductor. This is true by reason of the considerable velocity and momentum with which the air is directed into the chamber. Being initially directed downwardly in a circular path, the air must undergo a change of direction to enter the conductor I! and said change of direction Supplements the cleaning action obtained by reason of the circular or radial velocity of the air stream. In this manner, a condition of controlled turbillence obtains within the cha ber 22, which results in a relatively high degree of separation of foreign material from the incomn air st ea For removing from the chamber 22 the accumulated foreign material which has been separated from the incoming air stream, a plurality of openings 25 are provided in the bottom 24 of said chamber. Thus, the separated material may drop by the force of gravity through said openings into the lower portion of the housing i6 wherein it rests upon the bottom plate is of the cleaner. This material may be removed at intervals as will be described hereinafter.

A circular hood or dome 21 is positioned above the upper plate l7 and spaced thereabove by means of a circular spool or sleeve 28. The hood 2'; is circular in outline and carries a depending rnarginal skirt 28 which extends downwardly to a point below the horizontal plane of the top plate I1. Obviously, the hood 2! protects the interior of the cleaner from the elements as well as against physical damage. The spacing spool 23 be secured by welding, or other suitable means, to either the hood 2'! or to the upper surface of the plate I! so as to provide a structure having a minimum number of elements or par s. The spool has a generally concave outer surface which serves to direct air, which enters from beneath the skirt 28, into a circular path, so that the function of the openlugs 23 in causing the air stream to flow in a downwardly directed helix is aided and supplemented by the contour of said sleeve. In this manner, the circuitous path of the air stream is initiated within the hood 21 and intensified by passing through the openings 2!] and the chamber 22.

An elongate bolt 29 extends axially of the conductor H. The upper end of the bolt projects through a central opening 30 in the plate I'I, through the sleeve 28, and through a central opening 3! carried by the hood 2?, and terminates in a suitable winged head 32 formed integrally with said bolt. The lower end of the bolt carries screw-threads which engage within a screw-threaded opening 3 formed in a transverse Web 35. The web 35 extends diametrically of an adapter sleeve 35 which telescopes the lower end of the conductor H. As shown in Fig, 2, the sleeve 36 extends upwardly a considerable distance into the conductor H so that the web 35 is positioned above the horizontal .within which the bolt has a loose fit.

plane of the bottom plate 13. For limiting the upward movement of the sleeve within'the conductor, an external, annular'fiange 31 is provided upon the outer surface of the sleeve 36, said flange being adapted to engage theunderside of the plate l3 when the sleeve 36 isproperly positioned within the conductor. The latter sleeve projects below the plate 13a 'sufiicient distance to enable its connection to the intake of an oil bath'air cleaner (not shown) or other suitable device to which the present cleaner is to'be connected. This lower portion of the sleeve 38 may be swaged or enlarged as shown at 31 so as to permit its connection with a conductor (not shown) of a larger size, or it-may be the same size or of lesser diameter than the sleeve 36 for the purposesof connection to conductors of various sizes. Thus, the lower portion of the sleeve 36 forms an adapter which may' be made of any desirable diameter to permit the connection of this "cleaner to a conductor of any desired size.

It is obvious that as the bolt 29 is screwed into the web 35, the hood 2! and the sleeve 36 are urged together with the top and bottom plates and the 'housing'of the cleaner being'clamped therebe- .tween in a rigid and secure fashion. Conversely,

removal of the bolt permits the 'quick removal and disassembly of the cleaner for dumping and cleaning purposes.

This same ease of disassembly permits the ready substitution of alternate plates for the top plate l1. Different types and sizes of internal combustion engines utilizevaryingamounts of air, and it is highly desirable to be able to adjust the dimensions of the openings 28 in accordance with this air demand sothat an optimum air velocity within the chamber'22 resultsp Withthis structure, the

plate is easily removed and replaced with a similar plate having openings dimensioned in accordance with the characteristics of the-particular engine upon. whichthe cleaner is to be used. Thus, a dealer may quickly modify the cleaner to. meet the requirements of any engine, and the necessity of keeping large numbers'of different sizes of cleaners in stock, is eliminated.

At the same time of disassembly, the adapter sleeve 36 may be replaced with an interchangeable adapter having a lower end of such diameter-as to fit the intake pipe of the particular engine'at hand. So, all necessary or desirable modification of the cleaner for adaptation to various engines is greatly facilitated.

It is desirable to diminish the-circular or helical flow of the air afteritenters the upper end of the conductor. 1 l. vane or bafli'e 38 is positioned within the conductor and extends from a point adjacent the union of the latter with the bottom 24 of the cone 23, upwardly to a point adjacentthe underside of the top plate H. The bafile is positioned.diametrically.

of the conductor and is substantially equal in width to the latter. The lateral edges of the baflle are bent at right angles to form lateral flanges 39 which may be welded or otherwise secured to the sidewall of the conductor.

To accommodate the shank of the bolt 29 as well as provide a guide for the same, the baffle is deformed intermediate. its lateral edges, to form a semi-circular groove 40 which extends longitudinally of said baffle. A complementary strip 4|, semi-circular in cross-section, is joined to the bailie by lateral flanges 42 so as to overlie the groove 40 and form a circular passage or guide Being in axial alinement with the screw-threaded opening For this purpose, .a rectangular 6 '34 in the web 35, the guide facilitates the insertion of the bolt into said opening.

Thus positioned, the bafile aids in directing the air streams entering the conductor, into axial paths so that the circular flow of said streams is greatly reduced. 7

The dirt and other foreign matter which is removed from the incoming air drops into the lower portion of the housing [6 where it may be seen as it accumulates. In this manner, the operator is notified when the cleaner should be emptied.

The dumpingoperation may be carried out very quickly and easily. Removal of the bolt 29, allows the disengagement of the cleaner from the sleeve 36 and the separation of the cleaner elements from one another. After cleaning, the elements are reassembled and secured upon the sleeve by the bolt. 3

The efficiency of the cleaner has been found very high. As much as to per cent of all foreign matter is removed from incoming air so that the burden placed upon a second cleaner, usually of the oil bath type, used in conjunction with the present cleaner, is greatly reduced. However, it is pointed out, that the present cleaner alone'is suflicient in many instances to provide intake air of the requisite cleanness.

1 The foregoing-description of the invention is explanatory thereof and'various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An air cleaner including, a housing, an annular wall defining a separating chamber within the housing, a separable closure for the housing and chamber having means for directing an air stream-into the chamber in a circular path, and

'an air conductor communicating with the chain=v her for conducting air therefrom, said chamber having a plurality of openings in its lower portion and removably secured to the closure for connecting the cleaner to the air intake of the engine.

' I 3. An air cleaner including, a housing, an annular wall defining a separating chamber within the housing, an air conductor extending from the upper portion of the chamber to the lower end of the housing, and a removable closure plate engaging the upper ends of the annular wall and the housing, said closure plate having means for directing air flowing into the chamber into a helical path.

4. An air cleaner including, a housing, an an- ;nular wall defining a conical separating chamber within the upper portion of the housing, means for directing anair stream into the chamber in V a helical path, and an air conductor extending from the chamber exteriorly of the housing, said chamber having a plurality of openings in its lower end for allowing foreign matter separated from he a r strea to pas r m he chambe inte the lower portion of the housing.

5. An air cleaner including, a housing, a separating chamber in the upper portion of the housing, an air conductor extending from the chamber to the exterior of the housing, an adapter sleeve having a loose telescoping fit with the exterior end of the conductor, a closure plate having means for directing an air stream into the chamber in a plurality of helical paths, said plate engaging the upper end of the housing, and securing means extending through the housing between the plate and the adapter sleeve so as to clamp the housing between the plate and said sleeve.

6. An air cleaner including, a bottom plate, a cylindrical housing supported upon the plate, an air conductor extending upwardly from the plate and extending longitudinally of the housing, an inverted conical separating chamber in the upper portion of the housing, the upper end of the conductor extending to a point within the upper end of the chamber, a closure plate engaging the upper end of the housing and having an annulus of vaned openings for directing an air stream into the chamber in a plurality of helical paths, said chamber having openings in its lower end for the passage of foreign matter separated from the air stream, an adapter sleeve having a loose telescoping fit with the lower end of the air conductor, and a bolt extending between the closure plate and the adapter sleeve for urging the same together to clamp the housing between the firstnamed plate and the closure plate.

"7, An air cleaner including, a bottom plate, a cylindrical housing supported upon the plate, an air conductor secured to the plate and extending longitudinally of the housing, an inverted conical separating chamber in the upper portion of the housing, the upper end of the conductor extending to a point within the upper end of the chamber, a closure plate engaging the upper end of the housing and having an annulus of vaned openings for directing an air stream into the chamber in a plurality of helical paths, said chamber having openings in its lower end for the passage of foreign matter separated from the air stream, a hood overlying the closure plate and engaging the same, an adapter sleeve having a relatively loose telescoping fit with the lower end of the air conductor, and a bolt extending between the hood and the adapter sleeve for urging the same together to clamp the housing between the first named plate and the closure plate.

8. An air cleaner including, a bottom plate, a cylindrical housing formed of transparent material supported upon the plate, an air conductor extending upwardly from the plate and extending longitudinally of the housing, an inverted conical separating chamber in the upper portion of the housing, the upper end of the conductor extending to a point within the upper end of the chamber, a closure plate engaging the upper end of the housing and having an annulus of vaned openings for directing an air stream into the chamber in a plurality of helical paths, said chamber having openings in its lower end for the passage of foreign matter separated from the air stream, an adapter sleeve having a loose telescoping fit with the lower end of the air conductor, and a bolt extending between the closure plate and the adapter sleeve for urging the same together to clamp the housing between the firstnamed plate and the closure plate.

9. An air cleaner including, a bottom plate, a cylindrical housing supported upon the plate, an

air conduct ex nd ng upwa d y m the pla e and extending longitudinally of the housing, an inverted conical separating chamber in the upper portion of the housing, the upper end of the conductor extending to a point within the upper end of the chamber, a flat baifie positioned longitudinally of the conductor and projecting therefrom into the chamber, a closure plate engaging the upper end of; the housing and having an annulus of vaned openings for directing an air stream nto the chamber in a p ality of helical t said chamber having openings in its lower end for the passage or foreign matter separated from the air stream, an adapter sleeve having a loose telescoping fit with the lower end of the air conductor, and a bolt extending between the closure plat and the adapter s eeve for ur i th sa together to clamp th housing between the first named plate and the closure plate.

10. An a r lea er includin an a nular a defining a substantially conical separating chamher having a closed bottom and an open upper end, a housing surrounding said well, a closure for the open upper end of the chamber having means for directing an air stream into the chamlaer in a circular path, the closed bottom of the chamber having a plurality of openings therein, and an air conductor extending through the bottom of the chamber to a point near the upper end thereot.

11. A air cleaner as set forth in claim 10, a substantially fiat baflle positioned longitudinally of the conductor and projecting therefrom into the chamber, an adapter sleeve telescoping the lower end of the conductor, a transverse web carried by the sleeve, a bolt extendin between the transverse web and the closure, and guide means on the baffle receiving the shank of the bolt.

12 An air cleaner including, a housing having a separating chamber therein, and having one end open, an air conductor tube communicating between the interior and exterior of the housing through the opposite end of said housing, an adapter sleeve having a loose telescoping fit with the conductor tube, a closure plate for the open end of the housing, and a bolt extending between the closure plate and the adapter sleeve for urgi the same together to clamp the housing therebetween.

13. An air cleaner including, a housing having a separating chamber therein, and having one end open, an air conductor tube communicating between the interior and exterior of the housing through the opposite end of said housing, a shoulderedadapter sleeve having a loose telescoping fit with the conductor tube, a closure plate for the open end of the housing, and a bolt extending between the closure plate and the adapter sleeve for urging the same together to clamp the housing therebetween.

14. An air cleaner including, a bottom plate, a cylindrical housing supported upon the plate, an air conductor extending upwardly from the plate to a point near the upper end of the housing, an annular flange projecting radially outwardly from the conductor within the housing below the upper end of the conductor, an upwardly flared annular wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the flange to define a separating chamber, the upper edge of the wall terminating adjacent the upper edge of the housing, said. flange having downwardly facing openings therein, a closure plate engaging the upper end of the housing and having vaned openings for directing air into the separating chamber in a circular path, and means 1'or clamping the housing between the bottom I I plate and the closure plate. UNITED STATES PATENTS LOREN W. NEWBERRY. Number Name Date 1,641,746 Donaldson Sept. 6, 1927 REFERENCES CITED 5 1,743,522 Bull Jan. 14, 1930 2,378,506 Sebok June 19, 1945 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

